For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek
Here Comes the Rain by Mary Murphy
Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Early Literacy Tip

“Itsy Bitsy Spider” is more than a fun song — it describes the natural world. It explains in simple terms what happens when it rains.

Puppets: “Flutter, Flutter Butterfly”**
Flutter, flutter butterfly,
Floating in the spring sky
Floating by for all to see,
Floating by so merrily
Flutter, flutter butterfly,
Floating in the spring sky
Credit: Best Kids Book Site (Website has been updated and no longer links correctly)

Song: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” (Three ways)**
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again
(Teensy weensy spider & great big hairy spider)
Credit: Childhood; extensions learned in library school

Repeating Extension Activities

Open, Shut Them**

Two Little Blackbirds*

How It Went

I had to flop some themes around so that we’d be doing spring storytime when it actually felt like spring. (Oh, Chicago.) The kids adored singing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” three ways — lots and lots of laughs. They also seemed to be mesmerized during “Flutter, Flutter Butterfly”. Tuesday’s favorite book was definitely “Butterfly, Butterfly” with it pop-up ending and Thursday really liked “Here Comes the Rain”.

When I was originally brainstorming for my Languages storytime, I wanted to incorporate as many languages as possible. While Braille isn’t classified as a language, but rather as a writing system (from my understanding), I still wanted to include it to talk to my kiddos about the different way people communicate.

To make this flannelboard, I used puffy paint to create the raised dots. I tried to use the same color puffy paint as I did for the matching felt number so that it was easier for the kiddos.

I passed out the numbers set and had the Braille set on the board. I asked if anyone had the number one and the child who did would (hopefully) come up and be able to run their hand over the Braille number one. And so forth. If I had had over ten kids at this storytime, I would have passed out all of the pieces. Then I would have asked the child with number one to come up and put it on the board. Then I would have asked if someone had a dot piece with hot pink paint. Both kids would then be able to touch the Braille piece for number one.

I used a posterboard set of numbers as my template for the numbers. Other than that, I freehanded black squares.

The kids were very excited to get to come up and pet the flannelboard (which is one of their favorite activities). And they did a great job matching the matches!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my baby storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the baby rhymes/bounces/lifts/etc., visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books
For baby time, my library passes out individual copies of board books to each caregiver/child pair. I typically keep two or three to the side of me in case a baby tries to grab my copy. I read face out; caregivers read to their children.

This little guy came from my “Ten Teddy Bears” set. I took special care to hide him in my bag immediately after finding him because of his googly eyes. (This was an older flannel from before I was doing baby and toddler only storytimes.)

Repeating Extension Activities

Grr Grr Went the Big Brown Bear**

I Bounce You Here**

Open, Shut Them*

Round and Round the Garden**

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear**

How It Went

Tuesday morning
Today’s group was so fascinated with the brown bear puppet that I brought. Several of the babies just kept petting him once I was done with “Grr Grr Went the Big Brown Bear”, which was a nice tactile thing for them to play with. I actually went and put on a CD with “The Bear Went Over the Mountain” so they could keep squishing him.

Thursday morning
The best activity for this group was definitely “Brown Bear, Brown Bear”. Our parents and caregivers love this book. So many of them have it memorized. And while I often want to introduce new materials to parents, if a material works with this age group, I will use it and use it often!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

Puppets: “There’s Something In My Garden”**
There’s something in my garden
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound…
RIBBIT RIBBIT RIBBIT
A frog is what I found!
RIBBIT RIBBIT RIBBT
(SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK, A mouse is what I found! / CAW CAW CAW, A crow is what I found! / THUMP THUMP THUMP, A rabbit is what I found!)
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime

Song: “You Can Hear…”**
(Tune: She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain)
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR! ROAR!
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR! ROAR!
You can hear the lions roaring, you can hear the lions roaring
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo! ROAR! ROAR!
(Elephants trumpeting, zebra braying, monkey eeking)
Credit: Perpetual Preschool

Repeating Extension Activities

Dance Your Fingers**

Open, Shut Them*

This Is Big**

How It Went

I had a lot of fun planning this theme since I had never done an animal sounds storytime before. (I’m trying to repeat some classic themes, but I don’t want to just repeat exactly what I had done at my old library at my new library.) My favorite part is either class was when I opened up to suggestions after “You Can Hear” and had to come up with a dolphin sound and a raccoon sound. Dolphins clearly whistle and raccoon tap on garbage cans, right? Everyone’s favorite was “Peek-a-Zoo”, because it’s awesome and has pop-up flaps.

I bought this clipart on Etsy from revidevi, which is one of my favorite clip art stores. I made sure to get clipart that had both female and male superheroes, and I really liked how preschool-like the kids were.

I used this in Superheroes storytime with the song “Ten Little Heroes” modified from a childhood song that I’m sure you all know and recognize:

For more information on how I plan and prepare my baby storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the baby rhymes/bounces/lifts/etc., visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books
For baby time, my library passes out individual copies of board books to each caregiver/child pair. I typically keep two or three to the side of me in case a baby tries to grab my copy. I read face out; caregivers read to their children.

I took the cow from my “Mrs. Wishy-Washy” set and kept her hidden, with her clean side showing. Now that this is the third week, the babies have started to anticipate the shape game and immediately walk up closer after we sing “Hands Are Clapping”. I love that they are excited about this game!

Repeating Extension Activities

Baa Baa Black Sheep**

I Bounce You Here**

Open, Shut Them**

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear*

How It Went

Tuesday morning
There was a lot of really good animal sounds from my caregivers in this storytime. Quite a few babies answered back with their own sounds! This was the storytime where one of my families asked me to use some recorded music since my co-worker had done that in the past. It was an easy addition to add, so I did. I still dislike fiddling with the CD player though. I feel like it disrupts my storytime flow, but I’m sure I’ll get better with practice.

Thursday morning
Today’s group really enjoyed the Boynton title; I could tell that there were a lot of fans when some of the babies vocalized once I passed the books out. I have a helper baby in this group who loves to collect everyone’s board book copy. It’s the sweetest thing ever, but I have to be careful that no one bursts into tears if she takes their book.

For the first time in our library’s history, we ran our own summer reading program — Make Some Noise! What better opportunity to do a bi-weekly music and movement dance party? This program was advertised for ages 0-7 and their families.

The Plan

BookDancing Feet by Lindsey Craig
This has been a favorite book of mine since my last library. I love that it’s a guessing game and it was very fun to have the kids make the feet noises with me. I did have a few preschoolers who were trying so hard to answer before everyone else though. I had to ask them to let the littler kids have a chance too!

How It Went

The kids LOVED “The Goldfish” and “Jump Up, Turn Around” — the definite favorites of the day. We played with hand bells during “Dance Around”, “All You Pretty Babies”, and “I Love to Hear the Sounds”. The bells were not a super big hit in terms of the props. I don’t know if it’s because I saved the bells as the last introduction and the competition (shakers/parachute/scarves) were the better draw. “Sunny Day” didn’t really work as a cool-down song but has had great success in our weekly evening storytimes.

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

Song: “How Much Is That Doggie?”**
How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
The one with the waggley tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
I do hope that doggie’s for sale
Credit: Childhood

Song: “The Puppy Pokey”*
You put your small paw in, you put your small paw out.
You put your small paw in, and you shake it all about.
You do the Puppy Pokey, and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about.
You put your cold nose in, you put your cold nose out.
You put your cold nose in, and you snuffle all about.
You do the Puppy Pokey, and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about.
You put your floppy ears in, you put your floppy ears out.
You put your floppy ears in, and you shake them all about.
You do the Puppy Pokey, and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about.
You put your wagging tail in, you put your wagging tail out.
You put your wagging tail in, and you shake it all about.
You do the Puppy Pokey, and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about.
You put your puppy self in, you put your puppy self out.
You put your puppy self in, and you shake it all about.
You do the Puppy Pokey, and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about.
Credit: Addison Public Library

Repeating Extension Activities

Dance Your Fingers*

Open, Shut Them**

How It Went

This week was spring break week and I had a lot of older siblings attend storytime with their younger siblings. (Generally, we have a no siblings policy, but relax that on school holidays.) This was a good theme for both toddlers and older siblings. For whatever reason, both Tuesday and Thursday were nearly identical in what I used — which rarely happens. Both group enjoyed both books and I would have a hard time picking which was their favorite.

These are laminated pieces clipart, backed by construction paper. I’ve used these for years in different kinds of “things that go” storytimes. I had two of each card and hide them both behind my back as I sing:

Tune: Where is Thumbkin?
Where is pick-up truck? Where is pick-up truck?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.
Drive away. Drive away.(Tow truck, dump truck, moving truck, firetruck)

If I were making them now, I might choose instead to do a set with photographs so that kids could see the real trucks instead of the clipart ones.